It has grown to prominence as the dominant language of the UNSC and the human species, and is the primary language of every known UEG colony and organization, especially in the UNSC and UEG.

Several other languages are used throughout the UNSC, mostly with secondary roles in society, as English is always found in conjuncture with them. Such languages include Swahili[1] and Spanish.[2]

Covenant language translation software intercepted human COM transmissions after The Battle of Harvest, and thus the Covenant learned English quickly.[3] From 2525 to 2552, the Covenant used this knowledge mainly to broadcast florid curses at Human colonies and ships before destroying them but never actually held conversation with Humans.

UNSC translation software has been able to decrypt a number of Covenant languages, most notably those of the Grunts, Elites, and Prophets. By the time of the Battle of Earth, this software could automatically interpret everything the other races said, and it has apparently been installed in the equipment of all UNSC military personnel, as all personnel appear to have the ability to understand what members of these races are saying.[4] This is the reason that Grunts, Elites, Brutes, and Prophets heard in Halo 2 seem to be speaking English. Some of the members of the Covenant know how to speak English, mainly Elites and Grunts. In Halo: Reach however the Covenant cannot speak English.